Would it be appropriate
to stride up to a complete stranger at random,
grab his lapels, and loudly demand of him the answer to the question,
“Are you a molester of children?”
Of course not, that type of psychic assault
violently shoves another into a defensive posture,
and defensiveness is a profoundly effective method
of squandering one’s life.
Likewise, it is never appropriate to metaphorically
grab your kind teacher by the robes,
and violently shake him while demanding
the answer to the questions:
• “Were you ordained?”
• “Who trained you?”
• “Where did you take your 3 year retreats?”
for truly they all are merely round about ways of asking:
• “Are you a fraud?”
Do you want to know if any teacher is a fraud?
Why?
Are you dissatisfied with you current rate of spiritual development and
with your spiritual guide?
If not, then your question would be described as “foolish talk,”
the karmic negativity that is destructive both to self and others.
But, IF you ARE dissatisfied with you current rate of spiritual development and
with your current spiritual guide,
AND you enthusiastically hunger for
greater liberation from the tyranny of:
• sorrow,
• anger and
• fear
and earnestly long for greater:
• joy,
• love and
• peace
then there is ONLY one way to know,
to really know, if a new teacher is right for you:
#1 giving the new teacher the benefit of the doubt, suspend judgment,
#2 attend his first, beginner’s level class,
#3 do your homework twice daily, for 7 consecutive days, and
#4 THEN notice your results.
If the results are negative then
your search for your new teacher will have to continue,
BUT if the results are substantially positive,
THEN he’s the teacher for you.
Yes, it’s as simple as that.
And the same applies for others as well.
Just as we would not hand a loaded gun to an enraged fellow,
likewise we are not to willingly enable one who is obviously determined:
#1 not only to commit the karmic negativity of foolish talk but
#2 to cause you to do likewise.
IF someone expresses curiosity about your teacher’s qualifications
THEN ask them,
“are you dissatisfied with you current rate of spiritual development and
with your spiritual guide?”
If not, then do not feed their self-important curiosity.
If however, they are dissatisfied then simply invite them to
#1 giving the benefit of the doubt, suspend judgment,
#2 attend your teacher’s first, beginner’s level class,
#3 do their homework twice daily, for 7 consecutive days, and
#4 THEN notice their results.
Folks, this is the litmus test that separates the men from the boys
for most certainly if one is unwilling to do this
then one does not truly hunger and thirst for spiritual development,
no less full enlightenment.
Do we have the nobility of heart to
forsake the karmic negativity of foolish talk?
Do we have the compassion and courage to no longer indulge the
foolishness and self importance of others?
And do we have the gratitude of heart to
no longer psychically assault our teacher?
The Wednesday series of weekly webinars begins NEXT week.
May you and yours be
happy and healthy!
Om Mani Padme Hum,
.
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